The Forlorn Lover,
DECLARING HOW
A Lass gave her Lover three slips for a Tester,
And Married another a Week before Easter.
To a Pleasant new Tune.
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A Week before Easter,
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the days long and clear,
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So bright is the Sun
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and so cold is the ayr;
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I went into the Forrest,
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[s]ome flowers to find there,
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[An]d the Forrest would yield me no Posies.
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[T]he Wheat and the Rye
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that groweth so green,
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The Hedges and Trees
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in their several Coats,
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Small Birds do sing
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in their changeable notes,
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But there grows no Strawberries or Roses.
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I went in the Meadow
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some time for to spend,
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And to come back again,
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did fully intend:
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But as I came back
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I met with a friend,
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And love was the cause of my mourning.
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I lov'd a fair Lady
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this many a long day,
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And now to requite me,
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she married away;
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Here she hath left me
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in sorrow to stay,
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But now I begin to consider.
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I Loved her dear,
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and I loved her well,
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I hated those people
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that spoke of her ill;
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Many a one told me
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what she did say,
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But yet I would hardly believe them.
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But when I did hear
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my love askt in the Church,
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I went out of my seat,
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and sat in the porch:
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I found I should falsly
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be left in the lurch,
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And thought that my heart would have broken.
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But when I did see
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my Love to the Church go,
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With all her Bride-Maidens
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they made such a show;
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I laught in conceit,
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but my heart was full low,
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To see how highly she was regarded.
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But when I saw my love
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in the Church stand,
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Gold Ring on her Finger,
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well seal'd with a hand:
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He had so seduc'd her
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with house and with Land,
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That nothing but Death can them sever.
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But when the Bride-Maidens
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were having her to Bed,
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I stept in amongst them
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and kissed the Bride:
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I wisht I might have been
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laid by her side,
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And by that means I got me a favor.
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When she was laid in bed,
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(drest up in white)
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My eyes gusht with water,
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that drowned my sight:
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I put off my Hat,
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and bid them good-night,
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And adieu my fair sweeting for ever.
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Oh dig me a Grave
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that is wide, large, and deep,
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With a root at my head,
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and another at my feet:
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There will I lye
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and take a long sleep,
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I'le bid her farewel for ever.
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She plighted her faith,
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to be my fair Bride,
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And now at last hath
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me falsly depriv'd;
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I'le leave off my wrath,
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and with God be my guide,
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To save me from such another.
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I pitty her case,
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much more then my own,
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That she should imbrace
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and joyn hands in one:
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Whilst I am her true love,
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and daily do groan,
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My sorrow I cannot smother.
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Though Marriage hath bound her,
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she is much to blame,
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And though he hath found her,
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her Husband I am;
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Hereafter 'twill wound her,
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that she put them to shame,
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When Conscience shall be her accuser.
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Two Husbands she hath
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by this wild miscarriage,
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The one by a Contract,
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the other by Marriage:
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She doth her whole Family
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grossly disparage,
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But I will not plot to misuse her.
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Beware you young-men,
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of Arts or of Trades,
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Chuse warily when
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you meet with such Maids:
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You'd better live single
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alone in the Shades,
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Then to love such an abuser.
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